AlCircle News Edited By "Rupankar Majumder"
A professional with a technical background, specialising in producing insightful content centred around metals, particularly aluminium, passionately engaged in the intricacies of the recycling sector.
Brazilian aluminium industry to benefit from Equinor's solar power project
Norwegian energy firm Equinor has reached a final investment decision for $430 million in Brazil's 531MW Mendubim solar project. It is a joint venture project between Scatec, Hydro Rein, and Equinor in Rio Grande do Norte. In a 20-year power purchase agreement, Alunorte, one of the world's largest alumina suppliers for the aluminium industry, has already agreed to buy about 60% of the PV project's electricity. However, the remainder will be sold in the Brazilian domestic market. There will be an annual production of approximately 1.2TWh, equivalent to 620,000 Brazilian households' electricity consumption. In addition, it is expected to generate more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction. Olav Kolbeinstveit, Senior Vice-President at Equinor Renewables Power and Markets,...
Bulgarian aluminium extrusion company Aluplast-ZTG procures a second Nitrex nitriding system
The Bulgarian aluminium extruder, Aluplast-ZTG, an Altest company, recently procured a second Nitrex nitriding system. This results from the extruder gaining a big manufacturing boost after installing new extrusion presses to meet customer demand for its extrusion profiles used in residential and commercial construction. Since 2011, the first nitriding furnace, a compact N-EXT-412, has been operating. The new second furnace, a model N-EXT-612, is the same as the first one but more significant, capable of processing a load of extrusion dies weighing up to 1300 lb. (600 kg). Aluplast's decision to purchase the N-EXT-612 was influenced by an excellent relationship, trust in Nitrex's technology, and short delivery delay. Atanas Novakov, the Manager at Aluminium Production Plant, said, “We...
Metal Exchange Corporation names Matt Rohm as new CEO
On December 8, 2022, the industry leader in non-ferrous metal trading and manufacturing, Metal Exchange Corporation, announced the name of Matt Rohm, the present President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), will be promoted to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Metal Exchange Corporation effective January 1, 2023. While at that time, Rick Merluzzi, the current CEO, will assume the title of Executive Vice Chairman, serving as an advisor to Executive Chairman Mike Lefton, on key strategic initiatives for the organization, through the end of 2023. Matt Rohm will be accountable for the business's overall performance in his new position, with strategic oversight of all operating companies, divisions, and the entire Metal Exchange portfolio. The Chairman, Mike Lefton, said, "We are excited to...
Alba wins two major environmental awards from the Green Organization
On November 21, 2022, Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) received two major awards – ‘Gold’ Green World Award and Green World Leader for 2022, from the Green Organisation as announced in the Green Apple Awards ceremony held at the Palace of Westminster, London, UK. Alba's Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali commented on the honour: "As one of the leading industrial companies in the Region, Alba has been a keen investor in sustainable initiatives that help preserve and protect the environment. Winning two prestigious Awards from the Green Organisation translates into our ongoing commitment to operating sustainably and producing responsibly." Mohamed Khalil, Alba's Director of Safety, Health, Environment, Fire, and Security, added: "At Alba, we have a lifelong commitment to sustainable...
OZ Minerals, Boliden, and Rio Tinto collaborate to unlock innovative technologies for sustainable mining procedures
OZ Minerals, Boliden, and Rio Tinto will work together to develop new and innovative tailings management technologies, allowing the mining industry to reduce risk even further while extracting the materials needed for the energy transition from what was previously regarded as "waste." The three companies mentioned above will fund and support innovators striving to reinvent mining and processing to eliminate, minimize, reuse, or find value in mine tailings as part of the Think & Act Differently (TAD) incubator programme. The three organizations will also collaborate on more projects to boost production and achieve benefits like lower emissions and less waste. Michelle Ash, the Technology Executive at OZ Minerals, said, “We can accelerate technology much faster by working together. This...
Russian firms pose a security risk to the country: Swedish Defence Research Agency
According to a report published on December 6, 2022, by the Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOI), Russian corporations pose a threat to the nation's security. There are 128 Russian-owned companies in Sweden, four of which are on the EU sanctions list, while one is on the US and UK blacklists. The Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI, is one of Europe’s leading research institutes in defence and security. FOI is a government agency under the Ministry of Defence, and most of its activities are assignment-based. However, its client list includes the Swedish Armed Forces, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, Government Offices and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency. The research, which the Stockholm government ordered, emphasises the security concerns of relying on Russian goods...
EU plans to propose sanctions against Russia's mining industry
The European Union's politically independent executive arm, the European Commission, is planning to bring a proposal for a ban on new investments in Russia's mining sector as part of a new package of sanctions for the Russia-Ukraine geopolitical crisis. In accordance with our source, the prohibition on mining investment, which will have exceptions for certain products, is part of a ninth EU sanctions package that officials will discuss with member states next week and aim to reach an agreement on. Before the Russia-Ukraine conflict, foreign investment accounted for one-quarter of Russia's vast mining sector, producing commodities such as gold, iron ore, uranium and phosphates. It would be Brussels' first direct attack on Russia's metals sector, which it has previously avoided due to...
Gravita Togo SAU begins commercial production at its aluminium recycling plant
The commercial manufacturing of aluminium cast alloys has begun at Gravita Togo SAU's new recycling facility, with an annual capacity of about 4,000 MTPA in phase 1. The company expects additional revenue of approximately INR 60 crore per year from the new capacity, with gross margins of roughly 26%. Additionally, the company established a reliable scrap collection network before opening the factory and has been sourcing scrap from Togo for the past three years. Similar facilities for recycling aluminium already exist for the corporation in Tanzania, Senegal, Mozambique, and India. This is consistent with the company's international goal of expanding its recycling operations. The Group has injected approximately INR 11 crores in the procurement and commissioning of the new recycling...
Sohar International Bank takes part in the official opening ceremony of Sanvira Carbon FZC LLC
Sohar International Bank is committed to driving sustainable growth and supports key national projects that add value to the Sultanate of Oman's economy. Thus, the bank participated in the opening ceremony of Sanvira Carbon FZC LLC (SCL), a large-scale manufacturing project financed by Sohar International Bank and Sohar Islamic. The factory's inauguration, located at Sohar Port and Freezone, was held under the patronage of H.E. Salim bin Nasser bin Said Al Aufi, Minister of Oil and Gas. Among those present at the inauguration was Abdul Wahid Al Murshidi, Chief Islamic Banking Officer, Sohar International. As part of the event, several business leaders, government officials, and media representatives were also present. Ahmed Al Musalmi, the Chief Executive Officer of Sohar International,...
Heesen bags contract for a full-custom 57-metre aluminium yacht
The shipyard's DNA will be fully expressed in Project YN 20857, also known as Project Setteesettanta, which will have distinctive technological and design aspects. One of the few shipyards in the world that specializes in building lightweight aluminium yachts, Heesen was the first to use the incredibly fuel-efficient Fast Displacement Hull Form, a ground-breaking design by van Oossanen Naval Architects that can save fuel usage by up to 20%. YN 20857, which is 57 metres long and has an interior volume of 920 GT, perfectly complements the shipyard's line of products. Heesen is an expert at utilizing its cutting-edge shipyard in Oss by offering a well-balanced selection of Custom, Smart Custom, and Series yacht designs. The yard is currently building 14 yachts ranging in size from 50 to 80...
Russian aluminium boycott will be detrimental to the EU's economy, Rusal warns Varadkar
Leo Varadkar, the deputy prime minister of Ireland, was told by Rusal chief executive Evgenii Nikitin that a boycott of his company's aluminium would have "significant systemic effects" on the European manufacturing sector. Rusal is one of the leading aluminium producers in the world and is the owner of the Aughinish Alumina refinery on the Shannon estuary that produces 1.9 million tonnes of alumina per year. The Limerick-based alumina refinery accounts for 30 per cent of the total alumina production in Western Europe, which is exported to smelters to be converted into primary aluminium. The Irish alumina refinery is Europe's largest and most technologically advanced, with 450 employees. In August, Nikitin wrote to Varadkar that while the company had not been subject to any new sanctions,...
SMS Group to provide logistic and storage services for LOTTE's upcoming aluminium foil plant in the USA
On November 29, 2022, the German equipment provider to the metal industry, SMS Group, headquartered in Dusseldorf, announced its cooperation with South Korea’s LOTTE Group. With 150 years of experience, SMS Group is recognized as a future-oriented technology and outstanding service in plant construction and mechanical engineering for the metals industry. In August of this year, LOTTE announced that its subsidiaries LOTTE Chemical and LOTTE Aluminium had joined forces to create a manufacturing facility in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, to produce 36,000 tonnes of cathode foil annually. According to a statement by Kentucky state governor Andy Beshear, this substance is a form of ultra-thin aluminium foil that is a core material utilized in EV batteries. South Korea’s leading conglomerate, LOTTE...
Scotland Govt. accounts reveal distressing losses of £350 million from failed ventures; Sanjeev Gupta's Lochaber deal remains a focus
According to the government's official accounts, the Scottish Government spent £350 million on unsuccessful deals and endeavours during the most recent fiscal year. Recent Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts reveal that a significant amount of money was squandered on failed projects despite the need to fund them. Its main source of concern stems from its contentious deal with Sanjeev Gupta, who acquired the Lochaber aluminium smelter in 2016. A significant potential expense is associated with the 25-year agreement to guarantee payments for energy generation from the hydro network that feeds the aluminium smelter near Fort William. Ministers have set aside £114 million in their accounts, with a potential cost of £32 million annually. The agreement with Gupta, who is currently the...
Odisha ranks first in India’s upstream aluminium production and will soon be first in downstream products: Dr TK Chand
A sectoral session on the metal, downstream, and auxiliary industries was held on the Make in Odisha Conclave's second day. More than ten top industry leaders addressed a sizable crowd of business titans, policymakers, investors, and many more. The Minister of Industries, Energy and MSME, Pratap Kesari Dev, addressed the session, which invited investors to invest in downstream units in Odisha. Hemant Sharma, the Principal Secretary of Industry, explained why investors should invest in downstream industries in Odisha. Sharma highlighted the government's emphasis on parks, clusters, and hubs. He referred to Vedanta Aluminium Park and Angul Aluminium Park and urged MSMEs to take advantage of the opportunity. Dr Tapan Kumar Chand, the Resident Director of Vedanta and the Former Chairman cum...
Constellium to head the £10 million CirConAl initiative to create recycled aluminium alloys with lower carbon content and cost-effective
On November 2, 2022, Constellium SE announced that it is leading a new consortium of automakers and suppliers to develop lower carbon, lower cost aluminium extrusion alloys. The £10 million CirConAl (Circular and Constant Aluminium) project, funded by a grant from the UK's Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), intends to optimize the use of post-consumer scrap in a new generation of high-strength alloys that release less than two tonnes of CO2 each tonne of aluminium produced. CirConAl is part of a joint government and industry effort to build an end-to-end supply chain for zero-emissions vehicles in the United Kingdom. The project is anticipated to demonstrate that high-strength alloys with a high recycled content may meet or surpass OEM requirements, such as strength, crushability,...
Rising gas prices coupled with Ukraine-Russia geopolitical crisis pose a threat to Limerick Alumina Refining's job security
After talking with company bosses, Niall Collins, the Limerick TD and Minister of State has played down fears of job losses at Aughinish Alumina. According to the company's directors and auditors, the Ukraine-Russia geopolitical conflict and its economic impact are threatening the future viability of Rusal-owned West Limerick. Since the rise in gas prices in the year before the Ukraine invasion, the company has suffered a net loss of over €363 million. Now, these prices have increased again due to the conflict, putting the organization under immense pressure. As a result of the document, fears have again been raised for the nearly 500 employees at Europe's largest bauxite refinery, which produces 30% of the country's alumina, used primarily in aircraft. Limerick Alumina Refining paid over...
Top Newsmakers for November 2022: LME reported Russian metal will not be barred from trading; Novelis broke the ground on a new $50 million recycling centre in South Korea
The eleventh month of 2022 witnessed eventful happenings in the global aluminium industry, which is different in context from the tradition before the end of the year. In October 2022, the world's oldest and largest market for industrial metals exchange floated a discussion paper on the topic, seeking a market opinion on the possibility of prohibiting Russian metal. Still, in November, the LME stated it does not propose at this time to restrict the warranting of new Russian metal nor to impose thresholds or limits to the amount of Russian stock permitted in LME warehouses. On the other side, the world leader in sustainable, low-carbon rolled aluminium solutions, Novelis, broke the ground on a new $50 million recycling centre in South Korea to produce low-carbon sheet ingot. The leading...
FIMI's pre-budget proposal to the Finance Ministry, abolition of export duties on bauxite
The Indian apex body promoting the interests of all mining companies, the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI), has called for the withdrawal of export duties on bauxite, stating that the move will lead to the optimal exploitation of low-grade mineral resources by facilitating the reopening of closed bauxite mines, creating jobs, and earning foreign exchange. In its pre-Budget proposals to the Finance Ministry, FIMI said, "The export duty of 15 per cent on bauxite is detrimental to the Indian non-metallurgical bauxite producers and exporters. Therefore, this Federation requests the complete withdrawal of export duty on bauxite exports." It said that India is self-reliant in meeting its requirement and has enormous potential to be a significant player in the international bauxite...
